From Embassy Staff to Street Sweeper: The Multilingual Life of Sumy's Sergiy Grobovyi

A Full Life in Sumy

According to Главком: Sergiy Grobovyi, a resident of Sumy, leads a busy and fulfilling life, balancing his duties as a street cleaner with a wealth of experience and knowledge. His workday begins at 6:00 AM without weekends, laboring in the city center. His career path has been diverse, taking him from a security guard in the Kyiv metro to a maintenance worker at the Embassy of Kuwait. He returned to Sumy after a change of ambassador in Ukraine and continued his working life there.

Grobovyi holds a law degree, having graduated from the Kherson faculty of the Zaporizhzhia Law Institute. Demonstrating a drive for independence, he began working at the age of 14. In his current role, his tasks vary with the seasons, from clearing snow and chipping ice in winter to planting flowers and vegetables in spring, where he also assists elderly residents.

“My duties in winter include clearing snow and breaking up ice so people don't fall. In summer, I'm a gardener; in spring I plant flowers and vegetables, and I help the elderly grandmothers.” - Sergiy Grobovyi

Personal Life and Cultural Engagement

In August 2025, Sergiy married a woman named Liza, who came from Beijing to study. The couple actively participates in cultural events, regularly attending the Sumy Philharmonic. For his role in promoting the philharmonic and local culture, Grobovyi received a certificate of appreciation from the city authorities, with the acting mayor presenting him with a badge of honor and a letter of thanks.

Sergiy is proficient in eight languages, including English, Polish, German, Arabic, and Chinese. He recalls his linguistic journey, noting that while he studied English in school, he didn't see the point until he began communicating with American Christian missionaries. He now finds joy in interacting with people through his work.

• Fluent in eight languages
• Actively participates in cultural events
• Received a certificate of appreciation from city authorities

“I like being outdoors, I like communicating with people and bringing them pleasure. If it's clean, they thank me for my work,” Sergiy notes.

Adding another layer to his multicultural identity, his grandfather was Korean. His wife Liza has developed a taste for Ukrainian cuisine, citing soups like borscht and kharcho, dumplings, varenyky, and milk as her favorites. Grobovyi's story is a compelling example of how diverse cultural and professional experiences can converge into a unique life path. His journey highlights the resilience and adaptability found in many Ukrainians, who often build rich lives from varied experiences.

Sergiy Grobovyi's life underscores the value of blending personal passions with professional work, allowing him to support his family while positively influencing his city's cultural scene. His multilingualism and varied career demonstrate an adaptability and readiness for new challenges that are invaluable in today's world.